Tunkwa Lake
MU 3-18, Thompson-Nicola
50.6086° N, 120.8575° W
- Surface area
- 153.8ha
- Elevation
- 1,160m
World-renowned chironomid fishery with productive weed beds and massive insect hatches throughout spring and autumn.
Open Tunkwa Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Tunkwa Lake
Tunkwa Lake is known for trophy Rainbow trout to 8 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 8 lb
Trophy sizes this lake is known for, not a typical catch. They are historical records from our own big fish list, with no date on file, not recent catches.
Tunkwa Lake at a glance
- Region
- Thompson-Nicola
- Management unit
- MU 3-18
- Species
- Rainbow TroutThe newest of these fish records is from 2026.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Medium Lake (50 - 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 50.6086, -120.8575
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Gear for rainbow trout
Lines, leaders, lures and flies for rainbow trout, searched on Amazon.ca.
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What people catch at Tunkwa Lake
Stocked rainbow trout that grow fast. Most fish are 1 to 3 lb and a two year old fish can be 5 lb. The resort on the lake reports fish in the 10 lb class every year, so the top end is real but it is not what you should expect on a day trip.
- Rainbow Trout Stocked
Typically 1 to 3 lb
Bigger fish: trophy fish in the 10 lb class are caught each year
Released as fingerlings, so the size of the fish you catch depends on how many years that stocking has been in the lake.
Sources: Fishing with Rod, Tunkwa Lake Resort
The rule that shapes it. Engine power restriction - 7.5 kW (10 hp). Source: Province of British Columbia
Fish on record at Tunkwa Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1939 | 2026 | 269 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Tunkwa Lake
Chironomid pupae #12-#16 (chromies, anti-statics), Tom Thumb dry flies during caddis hatch, Woolly Buggers along shoals.
Best times of year at Tunkwa Lake
- May - June
- Late Sept - Oct
Tunkwa Lake fishing regulations
Engine power restriction - 7.5 kW (10 hp). Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Tunkwa Lake
Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park. Paved access, multiple concrete boat launches, dock, resort.
Coordinates: 50.6086, -120.8575
Camping and rec sites at Tunkwa Lake
- Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park (Main Campground)
170+ vehicle-accessible campsites, concrete boat launch, fishing dock, fish cleaning station, and water pump
Facilities: Concrete Boat Launch, Fishing Dock, Pit Toilets, Water Pump, Fire Rings, Tables
Access: Paved Tunkwa Lake Rd (2WD) - Leighton Lake Campground (Tunkwa Park)
87 vehicle-accessible campsites directly on Leighton Lake, boat launch, and pit toilets
Access: Maintained Gravel (2WD)
Depth chart for Tunkwa Lake
The Province sounded Tunkwa Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1981.
The ice year at Tunkwa Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Tunkwa Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 5 November and 18 November, and ice-off between 26 April and 15 May. The median winter freezes on 12 November and opens on 5 May.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 18 November 2024 to 11 April 2025, 144 days.
Tunkwa Lake is open to ice fishing under the regulations on file.
Whether a lake is open to ice fishing says nothing about whether its ice will hold you. Ice conditions vary year to year and across a single lake. Check locally before going out, every time.
Winterkill at Tunkwa Lake
- Winter 2022-23No winterkill reportedAn outcome reported the spring after. Winterkill Update: Spring 2023, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
- Winter 2025-26Rated low riskA rating from late-winter oxygen profiles, not a definitive result. Winterkill Update: Spring 2026, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
Tunkwa Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Tunkwa Lake is 1.2 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.2 Csince the 1960s
- 4.2 Caverage year now
- 3.0 Caverage year then
- -15 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Tunkwa Lake
The forecast on this lake's own coordinate, refreshed through the day. The app reads these seven days for fishing and scores each one.
| Day | Sky | High / low | Wind | Rain | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 20 Oct | Clear sky | 12° / -2° | 13 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 16° / 1° | 18 km/h, gusts 35 | dry | Falling (-7.5 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Overcast | 9° / 2° | 12 km/h, gusts 23 | dry | Steady |
| Fri 23 Oct | Fog | 7° / -2° | 15 km/h, gusts 34 | dry | Rising (+12.7 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 6° / -4° | 8 km/h, gusts 20 | dry | Rising (+6.3 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 5° / -5° | 8 km/h | dry | Rising (+2.4 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 6° / -4° | 9 km/h | dry | Falling (-1.7 hPa) |
Tunkwa Lake, in brief
What fish are in Tunkwa Lake?
Rainbow Trout. Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Tunkwa Lake in?
Tunkwa Lake is in MU 3-18, in the Thompson-Nicola. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Tunkwa Lake
- Leighton Lake 1 km away
- Duffy Lake 12 km away
- Dairy Lakes 12 km away
- Dominic Lake 13 km away
- Bose Lake 13 km away
All 342 lakes in the Thompson-Nicola, with today's conditions on each.